EDDY ALVAREZ

The Tampa Bay Rays clinched their second straight AL East title, with Mike Zunino hitting a go-ahead homer and Brandon Lowe later adding a pair of RBI doubles to beat the Miami Marlins 7-3.

Kevin Gausman returns to the mound — and plate — as he tries to help the Giants protect their lead in the NL West.

Kevin Gausman returns to the mound -- and plate -- as he tries to help the Giants protect their lead in the NL West.

Eddy Alvarez became only the third American to earn medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics when the United States beat defending-champion South Korea 7-2 to gain a berth into this weekend’s gold medal game against host Japan.

Yuki Yanagita tied it with an RBI grounder off Scott McGough in the ninth inning, Takuya Kai hit a winning single against Edwin Jackson in the 10th and Japan beat the United States 7-6 Monday night to reach the Olympic semifinals.

The news of the new infections came just hours after the opening ceremony.

A display of fireworks and choreography unfolded in a near-empty stadium in a subdued ceremony.

Eddy Alvarez, who plays baseball for the U.S. team, could become just the sixth person ever to medal in both the Winter and Summer Olympics. He took home a silver medal in Sochi for speed skating.

Miami Marlins infielder Eddy Alvarez and four-time Olympic women’s basketball gold medalist Sue Bird will be the U.S. flag bearers for the opening ceremonies of the Tokyo Games.

Eddy Alvarez, a Miami Marlins minor leaguer who won a silver medal in speedskating at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, was chosen by a vote of fellow U.S. athletes along with basketball star Sue Bird.

AdvertisementMiami Natives (both Columbus High Alumni) Will Represent the U.S. in the Tokyo Summer Olympics on the USA Baseball TeamEddy Alvarez ’08 and Jon Jay ’03 will be representing the United States in Tokyo at the Summer Olympics this year on the USA Baseball Team. Eddy will be the 11th American to participate in both the Winter and Summer Olympics. In 2014, he won a silver medal in speed skating at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Jon became a MLB World Series Champion in 2011 as a starting center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. *Eddy and Jon were national team roommates and bonded over their love for Miami, Columbus and “cafe cubano.”

Miami Marlins players Lewis Brinson (25) Magneuris Sierra, center, and Jon Berti celebrate after the Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 8-2 in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)MIAMI Jesus Aguilar drove in three runs, Jon Berti stole home and the NL East-leading Miami Marlins won their long-awaited, coronavirus-delayed home opener, beating the Atlanta Braves 8-2 Friday night. Miami returned to Marlins Park following a 23-day road trip, interrupted when 18 players and two coaches tested positive for the virus. The Braves will be without All-Star center fielder Ronald Acua Jr. in the series while he recovers from a sore left wrist. Marlins: LHP Daniel Castano (0-1, 8.31) will make his second major league start Saturday.

Miami Marlins' Francisco Cervelli celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK Francisco Cervelli hit a three-run homer, Humberto Mejia impressed in his abbreviated major league debut and the Miami Marlins kept up their surprising surge, beating the New York Mets 4-3 Friday night. The Marlins won their sixth in a row and improved to 7-1 theyre 5-0 since missing more than a week because of the teams coronavirus outbreak. Miami has won despite already using 43 players, including 25 pitchers, to maintain a full roster amid COVID-19 concerns. ROSTER MOVESThe Marlins moved RHP Jorge Guzman to their taxi squad after he made his major league debut Thursday.